A CARER who stole hundreds of pounds from a vulnerable 90-year-old woman - forcing her to move into a care home - is tonight (May 13) starting a jail sentence.

The victim was so traumatised after being targeted by Angela Brownson that her health deteriorated and she was fearful of living in her own home, magistrates heard.

At one point the frail woman told a nurse giving her medication: “Can you give me a bit more to finish me off and I’ll end it right now, because I have just had enough.”

Sentencing the thieving Ferryhill carer to 48 weeks in prison at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, bench chairman Dr David Shallow: “These breaches are extremely serious in their nature and constitute serious breach of trust of a vulnerable victim in medical care."

Brownson, 53, employed by Consett-based Kelly Park Caring Agency, was convicted of four counts of theft involving £530. She had denied the charges.

Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, said the victim, who lived in her own home in Durham, was cared for by Victoria Williams of Housemaids cleaners for 11 years but Brownson was brought in to provide daily care.

Ms Williams became suspicious when the pensioner asked her to withdraw larger sums of money.

Keeping a check on the pensioner's purse and wallet, Ms Williams noticed hundreds of pounds taken between May and July 2013.

CCTV was installed and Brownson was caught taking cash from the victim’s handbag and purse on three occasions – each time the victim was in the shower when Brownson should have been supervising her.

Only £30 was recovered.

Martin Clarke, mitigating, said Brownson had lost her job and her reputation was in tatters. But, despite denying the charges, she accepted the verdict.

Brownson of Hackworth Street, Ferryhill, was ordered to pay the victim £500 in compensation.